McCall's Ferry Bridge is a covered bridge in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The nearest town is Airville, about 5.0 km (3.1 mi) away (McCall's Ferry Bridge lies E of town). It dates from 1815.
Wikidata describes it as: “timber truss arch bridge over the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA, 1815-1818”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At McCall's Ferry Bridge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:10 AM | 90° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:38 AM | 58° ENE | 8:38 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 15h 00m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:54 AM | 89° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:24 AM | 121° ESE | 4:44 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 20m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Covered bridges look their best with soft side-light and a backdrop of fall color, snow or fresh spring green.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:56 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:24 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:35 PM | 9h 39m |
| February | 6:31 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:42 PM | 6:10 PM | 10h 43m |
| March | 6:51 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:54 AM | 6:37 PM | 7:12 PM | 7:39 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:00 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:12 PM | 13h 15m |
| May | 5:21 AM | 5:52 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 22m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:09 PM | 14h 59m |
| July | 5:18 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 44m |
| August | 5:49 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 45m |
| September | 6:20 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:16 PM | 7:43 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:49 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:53 AM | 5:51 PM | 6:27 PM | 6:55 PM | 11h 11m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:20 PM | 10h 00m |
| December | 6:50 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:03 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:42 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 22m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From McCall's Ferry Bridge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:22 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:22 AM – 5:42 AM | 1.3 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| May | 12:23 AM – 3:53 AM | 3.5 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:37 PM – 3:27 AM | 4.8 | 21° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:29 PM – 2:09 AM | 3.7 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:44 PM – 12:04 AM | 2.3 | 21° | S → SW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:07 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:57 PM – 8:07 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.27 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (63%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 67 | 73 | 78 | 90 | 91 | 96 | 103 | 99 | 96 | 95 | 76 | 70 |
| Low °F | 1 | -4 | -2 | 24 | 33 | 45 | 54 | 54 | 42 | 29 | 21 | 10 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this covered bridge
- Many covered bridges still carry traffic; stay off the roadway and watch for vehicles.
- Overcast days keep contrast low between the dark interior and the bright surroundings.
- Autumn foliage peaks are the most popular time — visit on weekdays to avoid crowds.
- Shoot from the stream bank to show the bridge, the water and its reflection together.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
Season: Peak fall color is the classic season; winter snow and spring blossoms are less crowded alternatives.
Suggested gear: Wide-angle lens, Tripod, Polarizer for foliage. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of McCall's Ferry Bridge, closest first.
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
State ParkScenic Viewpoint
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
Covered Bridge
WaterfallFAQ
When is the best time to photograph McCall's Ferry Bridge?
What time is golden hour at McCall's Ferry Bridge?
Where does the sun rise and set at McCall's Ferry Bridge?
Can you see the Milky Way from McCall's Ferry Bridge?
Do you need a permit to photograph at McCall's Ferry Bridge?
How far is McCall's Ferry Bridge from Airville?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.